WNBA Finals MVP history is a story of dynasties, dominant stars and unforgettable championship moments. Since the league’s first season in 1997, the award has gone to the player who rose highest when the stakes were biggest. Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson owns a record four regular-season MVP trophies, yet she also appears among the elite names who have claimed Finals MVP honors, a feat many consider even more impressive. Here is the complete rundown of every winner, plus the trends that shape the award.
(Want more on Wilson’s career? Read our breakdown of A’ja Wilson’s achievements.)
WNBA Finals MVP List: 2020 to 2024
The most recent stretch of WNBA Finals MVP history shows a league full of fresh champions:
- 2020: Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm
- 2021: Kahleah Copper, Chicago Sky
- 2022: Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas Aces
- 2023: A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
- 2024: Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty
Jones earned her trophy after the Liberty beat the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in overtime in a decisive Game 5 at Barclays Center, a dramatic way to close the era.
Past Finals MVPs: 2010 to 2019
Looking at past Finals MVPs from this decade, the Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm stand out.
2015 to 2019
- 2015: Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota Lynx
- 2016: Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks
- 2017: Sylvia Fowles, Minnesota Lynx
- 2018: Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm
- 2019: Emma Meesseman, Washington Mystics
2010 to 2014
- 2010: Lauren Jackson, Seattle Storm
- 2011: Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx
- 2012: Tamika Catchings, Indiana Fever
- 2013: Maya Moore, Minnesota Lynx
- 2014: Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
Fowles and Stewart each won twice here, cementing their status as postseason difference-makers.
The Early Years: 1997 to 2009
The foundation of WNBA Finals MVP history was laid by Houston’s Cynthia Cooper, who won the award in each of the league’s first four seasons.
1997 to 2004
- 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000: Cynthia Cooper, Houston Comets
- 2001 and 2002: Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks
- 2003: Ruth Riley, Detroit Shock
- 2004: Betty Lennox, Seattle Storm
2005 to 2009
- 2005: Yolanda Griffith, Sacramento Monarchs
- 2006: Deanna Nolan, Detroit Shock
- 2007: Cappie Pondexter, Phoenix Mercury
- 2008: Katie Smith, Detroit Shock
- 2009: Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
Cooper’s four straight awards remain a benchmark no one has matched in consecutive fashion.
Multiple-Time Winners and Key Trends
A few names dominate WNBA Finals MVP history with repeat honors:
- Cynthia Cooper: 4 awards (1997 to 2000)
- Lisa Leslie: 2 awards (2001, 2002)
- Diana Taurasi: 2 awards (2009, 2014)
- Sylvia Fowles: 2 awards (2015, 2017)
- Breanna Stewart: 2 awards (2018, 2020)
Teams matter too. Seattle, Minnesota, Detroit, Phoenix and Los Angeles have each produced multiple winners, and the Aces have claimed back-to-back awards with Gray and Wilson. The list also proves that Finals MVP does not always go to the regular-season MVP. Players like Copper, Meesseman and Riley turned in career-defining series on the biggest stage.
For deeper context on how stars are remembered beyond their stat lines, check out WNBA stars’ legacies beyond scoring.
From Cooper’s early dominance to Jones’ overtime heroics, WNBA Finals MVP history reflects the evolution of the league itself. Bookmark this page as your go-to reference as new champions join the list.
FAQs
1. Who has won the most WNBA Finals MVP awards?
Cynthia Cooper of the Houston Comets holds the record with four, winning every year from 1997 to 2000.
2. Who won the most recent WNBA Finals MVP on this list?
Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty won in 2024 after the Liberty defeated the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5.
3. Has A’ja Wilson won Finals MVP?
Yes. Wilson earned Finals MVP in 2023 with the Las Vegas Aces, alongside her record four regular-season MVP awards.
4. Which teams have produced the most winners?
The Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, Detroit Shock and Phoenix Mercury have each had multiple Finals MVPs, with Houston leading through Cooper’s four.